The veteran Caspian Prince comes here for another season and arrives in good form. He finished four lengths behind Equilateral in this last year but has a massive pull in the weights and should reverse the form, though the latter proved himself a high-class sprinter last summer with a second place behind Battaash in the King's Stakes at Ascot. However, LAZULI had him just over a length behind in a Group 3 at Newbury in September and Charlie Appleby's charge can take high order in the sprint ranks this winter. Ekhtiyaar invariably goes well here and, with his stable in form, it would be no surprise to see him in the mix.
Ekhtiyaar (9-0) 2nd of 16, 4 3/4l behind Wildman Jack (9-0) at Meydan 6f Grp 3 gd in Mar.
Equilateral 13-8fav (9-1) Held up in rear, headway 2f out, soon switched sharply left, went 2nd well inside final furlong, stayed on, no impression on winner, lost 2nd last stride, 3rd of 7, 1l behind Lazuli (9-0) at Newbury 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Lazuli (IRE) 5-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, edged left over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, ridden out, won at Newbury 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Tis Marvellous (9-1) by 1l, 7 ran.
Caspian Prince (IRE) 11-2 (9-10) Led narrowly, pressed and headed 110 yards out, kept on, 3rd of 6, 2 3/4l behind Aljady (9-11) at Beverley 5f stks (2) gd in Sep.
Acclaim The Nation (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Led, headed 2f out, weakened from over 1f out, last of 6, 10 1/2l behind Blue De Vega (9-7) at Leicester 5f hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Fanaar (IRE) (9-2) 11th of 16, 8 3/4l behind Boerhan (9-2) at Abu Dhabi 1m gd in Dec.
Kilfrush Memories (FR) (8-13) 3rd of 8, hd behind Bavaria Baby (8-13) at Fontainebleau 6f stks sft in Nov.
Dream Today (IRE) 3-1 (9-12) Chased leaders, effort far side of group over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Goodwood 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Delagate This Lord (9-5) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Drummore (IRE) (9-0) 4th of 16, 7 3/4l behind Wildman Jack (9-0) at Meydan 6f Grp 3 gd in Mar.
King Ragnar 5-2 (9-8) Raced keenly in mid-division, closer 6f out, ridden chasing leaders over 2f out, stayed on into 3rd final 100 yards, no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 3l behind Scottish Summit (9-11) at Newmarket 1m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Mutaraffa (IRE) (9-6) 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Dahawi (8-8) at Jebel Ali 6f hcp fst in Dec.
Riflescope (IRE) (9-5) 15th of 16, 37 1/4l behind Karaginsky (8-6) at Jebel Ali 7f hcp fst in Dec.
Roussel (IRE) 9-1 (8-10) 5th of 12, 1/2l behind Dream Today (8-7) at Meydan 6f hcp gd in Jan.
Speed Chance (IRE) (8-13) 11th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Wasim (8-13) at Meydan 7f hcp fst in Jan.
Eshaasy (9-4) 14th of 15, 9 3/4l behind Etisalat (8-5) at Meydan 5f hcp fst in Jan.
